Posted by Randy Jordan on November 11, 1999 at 10:05:25:

In Reply to: Re: Information Overload posted by Martyn R Jones on November 08, 1999 at 05:00:55:

Hello Martyn,

Thanks for your response. I think you interpreted my post pretty well but from a perspective the questioner didn't seem to have. In other words, I imagined the question :
"How can K-management help solve info overload?"

was asked by someone relatively new to KM. So, I answered in a way, I hoped, would provide a larger context for learning about it. I could be wrong, but I took a shot.

My background is in applied learning psychology, so establishing a context for new information when building knowledge is what I concentrate do. A lot of my work has been "interpreting" technical information for non-technical audiences and describing the technical work environment for non-technical workers. Usually, my goal is to create an enthusiastic environment for the implementation of new technologies or business processes.

The strategy is to try and bridge the communications gap that appears in some organizations wrestling with KM and IT/IS, etc. As a consequence I do overlap the IM and KM process as a way of setting the stage. IM is a discrete process and, done well, it informs the KM process, in my opinion.

I definately believe that organizational behavior plays a role in KM. If people, who find working with technology a demotivating experience, choose to "cope" with the system instead of use it, KM (as I think of it) intitiatives underperform.

Technical workers don't often realize they are motivated by working in a logical environment. This environment is demotivating for people who have different styles of thinking and a lower tolerance for details. My interest is in using the principles of learning to "add in" elements that non-technical workers will find...supports their motivational needs. It sounds much more warm and fuzzy writing it here, than it seems in practice.

The process is based on systems thinking and is a step by step approach that integrates facts, learning strategies, motivation - intrinsic motivation is a positive interest/passion as opposed to fear of losing one's job. The work outcomes of enthusiastic workers differs significantly from fearful ones.

All of this is to say, you are right to remind me that the process is complicated and composed of discrete functions. If one were to focus on the level of detail necessary to bring each function to life, the context I presented would be overwhelming.

My answer was intended as an introduction and overview. The spreadsheet meatphor was mean't to describe the benefits of organized and processed information, to someone that may be more familiar with spreadsheets than IT.

I've bookmarked your website, and look forward to reading more chapters when you post them.

Respectfully,
Randy Jordan

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